Spout for liquid containers and means for attaching the same thereto



R. C. MASTERSON Jan. 2, 1940.

SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME THERETO Filed Jan. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR imqsi'mlw ATTO R NEY5 :Rileg Jan. 2, 1940. R. c. MASTERSON 2,185,413

SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME THERETO Filed Jan. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 atente Jan. I1

STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME THERETO 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of liquid containers and, more particularly, to a spout for liquid containers and means for attaching the same thereto. I

In recent years there has been a marked increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetable juices which has brought about the development of cheap containers. For all practical purposes the tin can appears to be the most practical container for such products inasmuch as it is light, unbreakable, and so inexpensive that it can be thrown away without appreciable loss. This adds a degree of sanitation as the container is not again put to use. This general developmentof the tin can, with improved means for protecting the inside of the same, has adapted it for a wide variety of beverages, in addition to fruit and vegetable juices, notable among which are beer, malt products, and other manufactured beverages. The more prevalent use of the tin can also has had the effect of reducing its cost so that many other commercial liquids principally oils of various kinds, paints, and other fluids, are now being packaged in the smaller tin cans.

The increased use of the tin can has indicated the desirability of providing means for more easily pouring the contents from such cans.

My present invention is intended to overcome the present objections to the tin can and to provide a means whereby the liquid itself will not pass over the top of the can where it might be contaminated with foreign material, bacteria, or the like that usually collects on the top of the can during its transportation or storage.

The principal object of my present invention is, therefore, to provide a spout for containers, which, while usable with glass or crockery containers, is particularly adapted to the tin can and, particularly to thpse cans that are provided with openers which cut out a portion of the tops.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a spout for tin cans made, preferably, from paper or other similar material which would be pleasant to apply the lips to, particularly in cold weather, and which further canbe so cheaply made as to add little if any to the cost of the unit.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide a detachable spout and means for conveniently securing it in a rigid position. to a tin can.

A further object of my invention is to so form the top of a tin can that my detachable spout can be easily and securely placed in its operating position.

Another object is to provide a spout curved and so secured on one margin that it will provide a reasonably rigid spout without. itself, being unduly heavy or .diflicult to handle.

seat the curved portion Still another object of my present invention is to provide a detachable mouth-piece for use with a beverage container. 4

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective .view of my detachable spout.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a can with its cover formed so as to provide a groove adapted to receive my spout.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing my device in use, with certain parts broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 4 is a rear view of my spout as it would appear laid out flat.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken substantially along the line 6-'6 of Figure 2 and showing a groove on the side as well as on the top of the can.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6, except that it is without the side groove, but showing my spout, in fragmentary form, in place.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing certain details of my spout securing groove.

Figures 9, 10, and 11 are fragmentary, vertical sectional views taken respectively along the lines 99, Ill-l0, and lI-ll, of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reierence characters indicate like parts, l2 designates my mouthpiece, or spout, generally. This consists of the spout portion l4 and a retaining rim 16. Member 12 may be made of any suitable material. For certain uses it might be made of resin products, sheet metal, or wood;

for most uses, however, I prefer to use a type of water-resistant, or waterproof paper to the end that it will be more pleasant to use. Metal, aside from the danger of cutting the user, is not pleasant to drink from; consequently, a fairly firm paper with a smooth surface and, possibly, with a paraffin impregnation, seems at present to be the most desirable to employ.- Bead l6 might be made in a number of ways; that which appears most satisfactory is shown in Figures 3, 5, and '7, but probably best in Figure 8 which is an enlarged view. Here the material is folded back on itself to provide an easy curve at l8 and an edge at 20 which tends at all times to firmly l8 in the bottom of groove 22. While I have shown-member I! in Figures 1 and 3 as being a conventional spout it should be understood that any desirable form may be used to suit the use intended even to forming the same as a funnel.

. products, glass, porcelain, or crockery.

believed that such a device may In Figure 4 I have shown my spout as laid flat with bead l6 formed as a straight line. It will be apparent, it is believed, that the angle of the spout may be changed from that shown in Figure 3, by curving rim It as it appears in the flat stock. I

In forming groove 22 in the top of a container there are several considerations that will add to the convenience in forming and in using my device. First of all, from the standpoint of deforming the metal of the top, it has been found best to have the grooves extend entirely around the top to complete a. circle and where the grooves are shallow at the inclined planes starting as at 24 and 25 they should overlap slightly so that the same amount of distortion will be present in the complete circle of the can top so as to prevent buckling and undue difliculty in the formation of the grooves.

Further, it has been found desirable to have the groves slightly deeper at their ends so that bead [6 can be Slipped in easily and then, as-

the center portion indicated at 26 is reached and for a distance on each side of the same substantially equal to the extent of spout l2, the depth of the groves should be slightly reduced so as to seat the upper edge at 20 of bead l6 firmly under the overhanging edge 28 of the groove. This construction forces the curve portion l8 of the spout firmly into the bottom of groove 22 and assures a secure, as well as a liquid tight, seat. In forming groove 22 it is also desirable that the opening 30 of the same be of suflicient extent near ends-24 and 25 so that it will freely pass the paper body l4 and, as point 26 is approached, that this opening be reduced so that it is a fairly snug fit on body M. This again assures security and prevents any leakage at this point. portion of groove 22 as at 32 should start at points 24 and 25 slightly wider than the combined thick ness of body I4 and the turned up edge It; then, as these positions of rest for the spout are reached, this groove width should be reduced so that again a snug fit is assured. When groove 22 is formed in the side of the container these same proportions should be. maintained.

Method of operation In using my mouthpiece or spout on the conventional beverage can it is first necessary to open the same as for instance by the triangular opening 34 and to pierce the vent as 35; one

corner of my spout as 36 or 31 is then introduced into either opening 24 or 25 and with a circular movement the same is led around groove 22 until the center of the spout is located substantially at point 26 or at least centrally disposed with respect to the can opening.

In other forms of cans it is believed the adaptation of this form of spout and method of securing the same will be apparent. If the can is the center opening type, for instance, a crown cap, the diameter of the circular groove 22 may be reduced. This is also true when the spout is to be-used with an opening in the corner or at one margin of a large can, it being'apparent it is be used on any The width of the lower shaped can providing a curved groove 22 is used; this groove need not be circular as long as it is curved sufficiently to, adequately curve spout l2.

When one margin of my spout as I6 is held securely in groove 22 the structural shape assumedis such that unusual strength is provided for the weight of material used in the spout and even though the material is fairly light it can be depended upon to safely support the weight of one end of the can, as in pouring and the like.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrativeand that such changes in the invention may be made as are Tairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable dispensing-container having a discharge-port in one of its walls, an interior tubular-bead forming a depressed annular groove in said,.wall surrounding the port, the ends of said grooves terminating in planes inclined from the bottom of the groove to the wall surface and a detachable, flexible, discharge-spout mountedin said groove.

2. A portable dispensing-container for use with an attachable flexible, discharge-spout, said container having an interior tubular-bead ,forming a, depressed annular groove, the end of said grooves terminating in planes inclined from the bottom of the groove to the wall surface and means at the mouth of the groove for retaining such a discharge-spout.

3. A portable dispensing-container having a discharge.port in one of its walls, an interior tubular-bead forming an annular grove in said wall and surrounding said port, the ends of said grove terminating in planes inclined from the bottom of the groove to the wall surface, a detachable, flexible discharge-spout mounted in said groove, and co-acting means on said spout and one of the walls of the groove for retaining the spout in operative position.

4. A portable dispensing-container having a discharge port in one of its walls, an interior tubular-bead forming an annular groove in said wall and surrounding the port, said groove having an overhanging ledge forming a reduced slot in the wall, a. flexible discharge-spout mounted in the slot, and retaining means on the spout located in thegrove for co-action with the ledge.

5. A dispensing-container having a discharge port in one of its walls, an interior tubular-bead ing the port, said bead having spaced ends in V which the groove has shallower depths than the intermediate portion of the groove, said groove having an overhanging outer ledge forming a reduced slot in the wall, a flexible discharge spout mounted in the slot, and an edge-bead on the spout located in the groove co-acting with the ledge to retain the spout.

RILEY C. MASTERSON. 

